Colts' youth hockey tourney resurfaces after decades on ice

STOCKTON - It's been more than two decades since the Stockton Colts hosted a hockey tournament, and staff members were thrilled that everything seemed to go as smooth as the ice the youngsters skated on at Oak Park Ice Arena.

STOCKTON - It's been more than two decades since the Stockton Colts hosted a hockey tournament, and staff members were thrilled that everything seemed to go as smooth as the ice the youngsters skated on at Oak Park Ice Arena.

The Stockton Colts Labor Day Jamboree featured 14 youth teams and 210 players ranging in ages from 12 to 18, and went from morning until evening on Saturday and Sunday. Visiting coaches praised the organizers for running the games on time, the quality of the ice rink and the general atmosphere of the event.

"We're glad everyone is having a good time, and we're very pleased with how everything went," Colts president Larry Low said. "We decided to do this a few months ago, and everyone came together and worked hard."

There were Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget teams from San Mateo, Fresno, Cupertino, Lake Tahoe, Dublin, Roseville and Oakland. The officials moved teams on and off the ice swiftly, and a few rooms were turned into locker rooms to help accommodate players.

"It's been a fantastic jamboree," said Brian Farrell, a coach for the California Cougars of San Mateo. "Everything ran on time and smoothly, and there was some very good games.

"I would definitely come again."

Low said he wasn't sure the last time the Colts held a tournament, but former players and longtime coaches said it has been at least 20 years.

Derek Eisler, who joined the Colts as their director of hockey operations in July, said one of the reasons the club wanted to hold the event was to prepare players for the preseason and regular season.

The jamboree had a unique format, with teams at the Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget levels playing two halves lasting between 22-25 minutes, depending on the age of the players. There were not any champions announced, but squads could gain a total of three points per game, one each for leading the first half, the second half and for the final score.

"This is to prepare players and help them learn, so we thought this format was a good idea," Eisler said. "Even if a team is down by a few goals at the end of the first half, you start over again and they can still gain points in the second. It avoids letdowns. We want them out there playing hard."

Mason Smith of Stockton is a member of the Colts' Bantam A team and said he learned by playing and watching.

"Watching the older kids play shows you what's to come in the future," said Smith, 13. "It's good to get in games like this; it really helps."

Low and Eisler said the Colts hope to make the jamboree a yearly event.

"We got off to a great start, and we will continue to do things to help our club grow," Eisler said.